SAM Mettler Toledo June.pdf

SHOP-PR-25-001023

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

FINANCE DIVISION | PROCUREMENT SECTION

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL (J&A) FOR OTHER THAN

FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION IN ACCORDANCE WITH

TITLE 41 U.S.C. 3304 (A) (1)

Requisition Number: SHOP-PR-25-001023

Date: 20 June 2025

Estimated Contract Dollar Value: ______________

1. Identification of the agency and contracting activity.

The U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Procurement Section (PS), National Acquisition Programs Unit (NAPU) has prepared this justification for other than full and open competition for one (1) EasyMax 402 Advanced Thermostat System, one (1) Reactor AP00-18 Glass (RC1mx), one (1) Dosing Unit SP-50 Set, Software iControl Single License, and accessories on behalf of the FBI’s Laboratory Division (LD), Terrorist Explosives Device Analytical Center (TEDAC) Section, TEDAC Improvised Explosives Synthesis and Detection (TIEDS) Center Unit.

2. The nature and/or description of the action being approved, i.e., sole source, limited competition, establishment of a new source, etc.

A one-time, sole-source, firm-fixed-price (FFP) contract shall be awarded to METTLER-TOLEDO AUTOCHEM, Inc., (CAGE Code 1P8Y0), 6708 Alexander Bell Drive, Suite 100, Columbia, Maryland, 21046 for the procurement of one (1) EasyMax 402 Advanced Thermostat System.

3. A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs.

The FBI’s mission is to protect and defend the United States against terrorist and foreign intelligence threats, to uphold and enforce the criminal laws of the United States, and to provide leadership and criminal justice services to federal, state, municipal, and international agencies and partners; and to perform these responsibilities in a manner that is responsive to the needs of the public and is faithful to the Constitution of the United States.

The FBI’s Laboratory Division (LD) mission is to apply scientific capabilities and technical services to the collection, processing, and exploitation of evidence for the FBI and other duly constituted law enforcement and intelligence agencies in support of investigative and intelligence priorities.

The TIEDS Center Unit is executing a joint improvised explosives research effort with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Science and Technology Directorate (S&T). TIEDS overall goal of the research is to thoroughly characterize and evaluate improvised explosive materials. This research requires the ability to synthesize materials, both explosive and inert, in-house in a reliable and efficient manner. Such process development requires the utilization of various thermochemical parameters to conduct sufficient hazard analysis and maximize safety of personnel and property while also maximizing the yield per reaction. Having a reactor system capable of measuring, calculating, and implementing these parameters is essential for safe and successful production of hazardous materials. Operationally simple reactor automation provides the ability to conduct scale-up operations remotely while significantly reducing the hazard to personnel involved in the operations.

The Metter-Toledo EasyMax 402 Advanced Thermostat System, with the 18L reactor vessel, and the required accessories will support the synthesis of explosives for explosive characterization, test and evaluation of explosive chemistry work, and to avoid delays in providing Transportation Security Administration (TSA) critical data for the test and evaluation (T&E) of TSA detection systems.

Currently, the TIEDS Center is building out a second synthesis laboratory within the Explosives Synthesis and Testing Laboratory (ESTL) facility. The ESTL provides hazard and performance characterizations, and develops supporting information for use by detection technology center personnel to assess Transportation Safety Equipment (TSE) and conduct RDT&E tasks based upon priorities determined by TSA and DHS S&T. The buildout of a second synthesis laboratory is a necessity for the TIEDS Unit to be able to maintain pace with current and growing requests from customers that require explosive characterization work, and to maintain the ability to respond to the primary mission of rapid response to emerging threats expeditiously.

The TIEDS Unit currently possesses the ability to remotely scale up and manufacture explosives utilizing thermochemical information such as the heat of reaction data collected from an already acquired Mettler- Toledo EasyMax 402 Thermostat reactor system. [The FBI purchased one (1) EasyMax 402 Advanced Synthesis Workstation via Contract No. 15F06723P0002088 on June 9th, 2023.] This 2-cell reactor unit is capable of remotely determining the thermochemical properties of a reaction, such as the heat of reaction and heat capacity of the reaction matrix for a given set of conditions. These thermochemical properties can then be utilized in scale up processes to safely implement the manufacture of the explosive or other hazardous materials at scales ranging from 100’s to 1,000’s of grams.

While other reactor systems do exist, TIEDS requires a second unit that can directly interface with the other Mettler-Toledo units for which all the laboratory’s methods have been developed. Mettler-Toledo is the only manufacturer that can guarantee compatibility with the existing methods developed for synthetic operations.

The 18L reactor vessel will be used for large-scale synthesis operations at the TIEDS Center. This vessel is to be used in conjunction with the data generated by the EasyMax 402 System when transferred to the large reactor, (i.e. the RC1mx). This vessel is only available through Mettler-Toledo being proprietary in nature.

Presently, the TIEDS Center uses five (5) Mettler-Toledo instruments; [the EasyMax 402 (2016), the RM40 (2018), the RC1mx (2021), the OptiMax (2023), and the EasyMax 402 (2023)]. The operating software is the same across all these Mettler-Toledo products and only one vendor can provide a second EasyMax 402 Advanced Synthesis Workstation that will seamlessly integrate with the other systems already in use.

The EasyMax 402 System utilizes proprietary technologies to allow tight control of reaction parameters.

The temperature control system and the heat flow calorimetry method of measurement has been proprietary technologies based upon the RC1 introduced by Mettler-Toledo over 40 years ago. Both instruments use iControl Software, (a proprietary software package), that allows for full integration to other Mettler-Toledo PAT equipment, (such as the ReactIR, ReactRaman, ParticleTrack and EasyViewer).

4. The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1) as implemented by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 6.302-1 entitled, “Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.”

5. Demonstrate the unique qualifications of the proposed contractor or the nature of the action requiring the use of the authority.

From the information the FBI has gathered, METTLER-TOLEDO AUTOCHEM, Inc. is the sole manufacturer and distributer of the EasyMax 402 Advanced Synthesis Workstation and the 18L Glass Reactor.

See section 3 above.

6. A description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable, including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by Subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under 5.202 applies.

The FBI will publicize the notice of intent to award a sole-source contract on the SAM.gov website.

This announcement will give an opportunity for other vendors to demonstrate their ability to meet the FBI’s specific needs through a submission of technical capabilities and cost information.

7. The anticipated dollar value of the proposed acquisition, including options if applicable, and a determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

Prior to issuing an award, the Contracting Officer will determine that the proposed price is fair and reasonable in accordance with FAR 13.106-3.

8. A description of the market research conducted and the results.

Market research was done with phone solicitations, internet searches, and meetings with knowledgeable individuals in the related industry.

9. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition.

See section 5 above.

https://www.acquisition.gov/far/html/Subpart%205_2.html#wp1107980 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/html/Subpart%205_2.html#wp1107990

10. A listing of any sources that expressed a written interest in the acquisition.

A synopsis will be posted on the SAM.gov website. This synopsis will give an opportunity for other vendors to demonstrate their ability to meet the FBI’s specific needs through a submission of technical capabilities and cost information.

11. A statement of any actions the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition if subsequent acquisitions are anticipated.

The FBI will continue to conduct market surveys and research available through industry shows and technology releases in the form of papers and journals on subsequent acquisitions.

Reviews and Approvals (up to $750,000.00)

Requestor:

I certify that the facts and representations under my cognizance, which are included in this justification, and which form a basis for this justification, are complete and accurate.

Date Management and Program Analyst TIEDS Center Unit Redstone Arsenal, Alabama

Contracting Officer:

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Bryan Lane Date National Acquisition Programs Unit Quantico, Virginia bvlane@fbi.gov mailto:bvlane@fbi.gov